[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
PROCLAMATION 8617--DEC. 17, 2010
Proclamation 8617 of December 17, 2010
Wright Brothers Day, 2010
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On December 17, 1903, after years of determination and creativity,
Orville and Wilbur Wright's wooden aircraft sailed the steady winds of
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and conquered the age-old dream of manned
flight. That day, the two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, could only imagine
what we now know--that those moments aloft in the North Carolina sky
would send mankind on a revolutionary journey and modernize
transportation. On this day, we celebrate their historic accomplishment,
the limitless potential they represent, and the vision they spurred for
the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.
The Wright brothers' monumental achievement solidified their place in
history and earned them status as American and global icons. They
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moved aviation from a curiosity into an indispensable global industry.
Self-taught and relentless in their years of work and experimentation,
these brothers were a shining illustration of the limitless capacity of
human intellect and the resourcefulness of the American entrepreneur. As
part of an era of great visionaries, Orville and Wilbur Wright helped
hasten an age of discovery and great technological advancement. Their
unyielding pursuit of powered flight stands as a proud example for young
and curious minds eager to transform and advance the world around them.
Just as the Wright brothers' breakthrough led to a new industry that
forever altered our world, a new generation of space pioneers is now
following in their footsteps and setting our Nation's sights even
higher. Working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
and the Federal Aviation Administration, leaders in spaceflight are
making great progress in ushering in a new commercial space industry
that can help boost our economy, create new jobs, and take Americans to
soaring new heights.
America's long history of technological leadership and innovation has
been the product of learning and ingenuity. To maintain this tradition
and propel it forward, America must empower the next generation of doers
and makers. We must ensure our Nation's students receive the world-class
mathematics and science education they need to challenge the boundaries
of human knowledge and realize tomorrow what we can only dream today. We
must also ready our children to become the entrepreneurs whose tenacity
and creativity will power the engine of our Nation's economy for
centuries to come. On Wright Brothers Day, in remembrance of that
celebrated flight, let us recommit to preparing the next generation of
scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to create a future
of promise and progress.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, as
amended (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), has designated December 17 of
each year as ``Wright Brothers Day'' and has authorized and requested
the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of
the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2010, as Wright Brothers Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA